We recently had the excitement of having an ultrasound scan. I was twenty weeks pregnant and we had decided to find out the sex of our baby if he/she decided to reveal it to us.

As we walked into the room, our three-year-old son Sol announced: “I am going to see if there is a vulva or a penis!".

The radiographer seemed rather uncomfortable at his confidence. She giggled, and then said to him: “A Volvo! But a Volvo is a car!”, and it seemed that she was making this joke to cover up her embarrassment at Sol’s knowledge of basic anatomy.

Sol looked at her oddly, and calmly explained to her “No it’s not, it’s what girls have instead of a penis”.

As I lay there, I did a silent cheer for my boy.

As Sol provided a running commentary on what he believed he could see on the TV-screen of the scan, the radiographer commented to me that he had an impressive knowledge of anatomy. I thought about her comment, and I really don't think he does. I think she was actually referring to Sol's accurate labelling of sexual body parts, and I got the feeling this made her uncomfortable.

Isn't it odd that so many people are so uncomfortable with the correct labelling of body parts? For preschoolers, the word vulva has about as much meaning attached to it as nose, mouth and ears. It is just another body part.

Yes! I felt a little uncomfortable with the word when we first introduced it to Miss 2 but I'm so glad we stuck with it because now it has become normal for all of us to hear the word "vulva" and that is a really good thing.

Reply

Momma Sam

13/5/2012 07:21:42 am

I think I learned "vulva" in middle school ... until then it was "down there," or "privates." So glad that it's now the norm or becoming the norm to give accurate names! Proud of your kiddo, too! :)